Durham Region Invests in Deep Energy Retrofit Project at Senior Living Apartment

Durham Region is investing the CCBF in a multi-year deep energy retrofit project at one of its senior living apartment buildings at 655 Harwood in Ajax.

This project is intended to reduce energy consumption, better protect vulnerable elderly residents from the impacts of climate change and make the building more climate resilient.

Preliminary work included completion of a building condition audit to determine which building elements were nearing the end of their useful service life. The audit included the building’s automation system, emergency generator and automatic transfer switch, water distribution, water storage tank and water heating system, and fire dampers. 

Durham is investing $6.8 million from the Fund into multiple upgrades at 655 Harwood. Most notable is the installation of in-suite cooling for each apartment and a new emergency generator. This will ensure residents are never left without electricity or air conditioning – safeguarding them from the dangers of extreme heat. 

Additionally, upgrades will make the building energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The target is a minimum of 48 per cent reduction in energy use, and the Region estimates upgrades to the building will reduce carbon emissions by 79 tonnes, which is an overall reduction of three per cent across the Region’s entire housing portfolio.